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Bush and Gentle Giants Safari Holiday Vacation – 8 Days

An 8 Day and 7 Night luxury Safari Package that combines the majestic bush safari experience Tanzania with the one of the most exhilarating experiences - gorilla tracking in Uganda. Luxury accommodations carefully chosen for their comfort levels and experiences will be used in this holiday vacation include; Sanctuary Swala located in the Tarangire National Park and Sanctuary Gorilla Forest Camp situated in the Bwindi Impenetrable Forest.

One More Reason To Book This Safari Experience

Customize this safari by adding more destinations or even more days at each location for a truly memorable safari experience.

Begin your adventure holiday staying at luxury lodge located within a working coffee plantation on the outskirts of Arusha town.

Explore The Tarangire National Park, famous for the large herds of elephants and spectacular baobab trees as well as its stunning landscapes.

Conduct game drives in the Tarangire National Park in search of wild game Huge herds of elephant, greater kudu, impala, zebra, leopard lurk in the trees, Lions, ostrich, waterbuck and birds.

View and try to spot the endemic bird of Tarangire including lovebirds, Rufos-tailed weaver bird and ashy starling at a swamp within the park on a game drive.

Visit a school stared by the camp to educate children from the surrounding rural areas and learn about the curriculum at a rural African school as you interact with the children during their class at Tarangire

Go on a walking safari excursion with an armed guide in to the Tarangire National Park and learn how to track animals as wellas animal behavior encountering zebra, waterbuck, impala, ostrich, elephant and a variety of birds along the way.

Take a refreshing swim in the pool or relax on your private deck with a cool drink and gaze out to the waterhole and watch as the game lazily congregates in the shade to escape the midday sun at your camp at the Tarangire National Park.

Stay at a luxurious classically rustic Roman villa replica resort on the shores of Lake Victoria the second largest fresh water lake in the world.

Visit Bwindi Impenetrable Forest National Park a UNESCO World Heritage site and a spectacular place to visit.

Track the endangered mountain gorilla deep into the Bwindi Impenetrable Forest National Park and get to spend a little time with these incredible creatures.

Meet the local Batwa community a pigmy tribe that once lived within the Bwindi Impenetrable Forest National Park and learn about their way of life and cultures.

Itinerary

The Detailed Luxury Safari Adventure Holiday Vacation Itinerary

Day 1: Arusha Town - Tarangire National Park

In Arusha you will be met by a And Africa Travel representative and transferred by private 4WD vehicle to Sanctuary Swala, your luxury tented camp in the Tarangire National Park. The drive from Arusha to Tarangire is approximately two hours, from the entrance of the park there is another one hour drive and there are plenty of game viewing opportunities en route.

Tarangire is renowned for its elephant population that floods the park in their herds as they drink by the edge of the Tarangire River. In the afternoon there is time to relax before enjoying an exciting game drive by open four wheel drive vehicle. Huge herds of elephant, greater kudu, impala and zebra are all easily spotted whilst leopards lurk in the trees. As the sun fades return to camp for a Sundowner. Relax in your comfortable sofa as you watch the game stroll through camp and carry on with their daily activities.

Meals Included: Lunch, Dinner

Overnight: Sanctuary Swala

Day 2: Tarangire National Park

Start your day leisurely watching the bush come to life from the private deck of your tent. Impala and dik dik wonder through camp on their way to the waterhole before starting their day. Following lunch you have time to take a refreshing swim in the pool or relax on your private deck with a cool drink and gaze out to the waterhole and watch as the game lazily congregates in the shade to escape the midday sun.

As the afternoon progresses you may like to return to the Tarangire on an afternoon game drive. The beauty of Tarangire unfolds as you venture out into the baobab scattered landscape. This evening enjoy a game drive by moonlight. As dusk falls, venture into the park transformed by night. Search for nocturnal animals rarely seen by visitors as this is one of a few places in northern Tanzania where you can enjoy a safari by moonlight. At night you may encounter an African wild cat, the elusive leopard or a bushbaby peering down at you.

Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Overnight: Sanctuary Swala

Day 3: Tarangire National Park

This morning awake to the sounds of the bush as a steaming hot cup of tea or coffee is served on your tents private deck.

You may like to spend a full day with your driver/guide who will take you into the heart of the Tarangire by open 4WD vehicle in search of buffalo, giraffe and elephant. The swamp attracts hundreds of elephants as they wallow in the shallow water that remains throughout the dry season. A variety of bird species can be found around the edge of the swamp including lovebirds, rufous-tailed weaver birds and ashy starling all endemic to the area. Kori Bustard, ostrich, hornbills and guinea fowl can all be found on dryer land. A picnic hamper will be provided for your lunch to be enjoyed at one of the parks picnic sites with extensive views below you.

Enjoy a pre-dinner drink in the lounge or on the deck as the sun paints the camps baobab's a dusty pink. Dinner tonight is enjoyed by lamplight as you listen to Tarangire's nocturnal animals stir and start their day. Retire to the camp fire this evening as you unwind under the starry night sky.

Meals included: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner

Overnight: Sanctuary Swala

Day 4: Tarangire National Park – Arusha Town - Entebbe Town

Today a Sanctuary guide will transfer you by private 4WD vehicle to Kilimanjaro Airport for your onward flight to Entebbe International Airport Uganda. Upon arrival at Entebbe International airport you will be met by a And Africa Travel representative who will brief you and transfer you to Serena Lake Victoria Resort on the shores of Lake Victoria, 32 KMs away.

The Serena Lake Victoria Resort is styled to replicate the lines of a classically rustic Roman villa which might just as easily stand amid the sunflowers of the Tuscan Hills, as on the shores of Africa's largest lake, Lake Victoria. A gracious terracotta and cream palace, the central citadel is encircled by broad café and cocktail terraces, where cushioned sofas invite relaxation. Above the marble reception, where a Roman fountain plays, white-arched galleries rise to a clear glass atrium. Widely spaced amongst the rose gardens, clusters of pastel-painted villas offer a choice of rooms and suites, all with panoramic lake views.

Meals included: Breakfast

Overnight: Serena Lake Victoria Resort

Day 5: Entebbe Town - Bwindi Impenetrable Forest National Park

After breakfast transfer to Entebbe International airport for your scheduled flight to Kihihi - Bwindi on Aerolink schedule flight at 08:30hrs. This is a 1hr 50min flight. Upon arrival at Kihihi airstrip the Sanctuary Gorilla Forest Camp guide will be there to meet you and transfer you to the lodge.

Sanctuary Gorilla Forest Camp is the only concessionaire located within Bwindi Impenetrable National Park which is UNESCO World Heritage. It is the perfect luxurious base for a tracking experience as it offers luxury in the heart of the rain forest. Accommodation is in eight large en-suite 'tents' which have two queen-sized beds and a bathtub looking out onto the forest - ideal for soaking away aches and pains after a day searching for gorillas in the forest. The camp is raised on natural platform for open air dining. Guests can sit around the cozy campfire at night and enjoy Bwindi's crystal clear mountain sky.

Meals included: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner

Overnight: Sanctuary Gorilla Forest Camp

Day 6: Bwindi Impenetrable Forest National Park

You will have an early breakfast every morning before leaving for gorilla tracking. You will be at the tracking point by 8:00am for a briefing by the tracking guide. Tracking commences every morning from the park headquarters at 8:30am.

The gorillas we track belong to one of the 'habituated' family groups in Northern Bwindi, in Buhoma side. For several years each group has undergone an extremely delicate process that has gradually made them used to the presence of humans.

Experienced guides will accompany on the treks. The trackers, many of who have been involved in the habituation process themselves. Once the gorillas are located, the group will be allowed a maximum of one hour with them. Bwindi boasts over 300 bird species, including 24 that are endemic to these highlands straddling Uganda, Rwanda and the Congo - the "Albertine Rift Endemics".

Meals included: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner

Overnight: Sanctuary Gorilla Forest Camp

Day 7: Bwindi Impenetrable Forest National Park

After breakfast you will be transferred to the Batwa tribe village tracking point for a visit to the Batwa Pygmy tribe village.

The hike is stiff as they live high up in the mountains. It is a rare privilege to see this forgotten group of people. Only eight of the original Batwa remain. Although no one is sure exactly how old they are, they are believed to be between 80 and 110!

The walk to their village is spiced with interesting information and anecdotes: the way the locals make banana gin, how they build their homes and the history of the Batwa. For hundreds of years they had lived in Bwindi Impenetrable Forest, reliant on the forest for food and shelter. When gorilla tourism started to take off and the recognition of Bwindi Impenetrable Forest by UNESCO as a world Heritage site there was need to protect and conserve the Forest, this led to the Batwa to be moved to the periphery of the Forest. Years later an American doctor, Doctor Scott, learnt about their plight and working with other stake holders was able to procure them land.

Meals included: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner

Overnight: Sanctuary Gorilla Forest Camp

Day 8: Bwindi Impenetrable Forest National Park – Entebbe Town

After breakfast at the lodge, you will be ready for your transfer to Kihihi airstrip for your schedule flight back to Entebbe at 1055hrs. Upon arrival you will be met by a Sanctuary Retreats representative who will assist you to your next connection.

Meals included: Breakfast

Prices and Inclusions

Prices

Please treat the prices shown as a price estimate. Your final price might go up or down following seasonal prices in the different lodges, camps and resorts. All prices indicated are per person, based on 2 persons sharing a room, and on estimated high season rates.

Rates Include

Accommodation

Overnight at Serena Lake Victoria on Bed and breakfast basis

Three meals daily (depending on arrival and departure times)

Soft drinks, house wines, local brand spirits and beers where applicable

How To Book

Contact a destination specialist

Whether you wish to book this holiday vacation or wish plan your holiday trip around this itinerary idea or you have other ideas, please do get in touch by filling the booking form below or online contacts page. If using our booking form or online contacts page, an And Africa Travel safari destination specialist will contact you by email to discuss your requirements.

Discuss your requirements

Our destination safari specialists have the first hand knowledge about Africa, required to put your holiday plans into action. They can answer your questions, offer suggestions and advice to suit your tastes, needs, likes and budget.

Refine your tailor-made custom itinerary

Your safari specialist will carefully design your holiday trip, creating a detailed itinerary which you will receive on email. Your safari specialist will answer any further questions you have and refine it until you are completely happy.

Confirmation

Once you are satisfied with all the arrangements, we ask you to complete a booking form and pay a deposit of 40% of the total cost of your trip.

Staying in touch

Even after booking, you’ll undoubtedly think of more questions. Feel free to call your safari specialist at any time. The same safari specialist will handle your trip from start to finish.

The Online Booking Form

Please complete the enquiry form below in as much detail as possible and one of our safari specialists will respond to your enquiry within 24 hours (48 hours on a weekend) with free, no-obligation advice, or a quote if appropriate.